Cleaning device



June 14, 1960 F. CZAPAR 2,940,103

CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 17, 1958 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. FRA NK CZA PA R ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice PatentedJune, 14, 1960 CLEANING DEVICE Frank Czapar, 4217 Swift St, San Diego,Calif. Filed Jan. 17,1958, Ser. No. 709,564

1 Claim. c1. 15-129 My invention relates to a cleaning device, and hasmore specific reference to a portable cleaning implement which isparticularly useful in washing automobiles.

In order to remove the dust and road grime from the painted surface ofmodern automobiles, it is necessary to flood the surface with water, andto scrub it with a soft material in order to dislodge the dirt which isthen carried away by the water. The object being used to scrub thesurface should not be rough otherwise scratches will appear in thesurface of the finish. The material being used should also besufliciently tough and tearresistant, so that it will not rapidly go topieces during the washing operation.

I have found that synthetic sponges, such as cellulose sponges, areideal for washing automobiles in that they readily absorb water andbecome relatively soft, and yet are sufliciently tough that they willnot disintegrate during a washing operation.

Also, in washing a car, it is essential to have suflicient waterflooding the surface at the area being scrubbed, so that grit particleswill be readily flooded away and will not tend to adhere to thescrubbing medium to thereby scratch the surface. Whereas, the volume ofwater flooding the surface must be suflicient to carry the dirt away, itis rather unpleasant to the operator to have too much water because ittends to splash on the operator and get his clothing wet.

The ideal manner for washing a car is to have a tough, relatively softobject, such as a cellulose sponge, with a constant supply ofslow-running water being deposited on the surface adjacent the pointbeing scrubbed. This is usually accomplished by holding a sponge in onehand and a water hose in the other. Whereas, such operation results in asatisfactorily cleaned car, it is awkward from the operators standpoint.

I am aware that other devices have been produced and sold which attachto a water hose and supply water through the device being used forscrubbing the car. However, so far as is known by applicant, suchdevices are unsatisfactory, in that there are exposed metal parts whichmay result in damage to the surface. Also such devices depend for theirscrubbing action on a highvelocity stream of water. This is not onlywasteful of the water, but is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of theoperator because it frequently splashes on and gets his clothing wet.

In some cases, in order to remove all of the grime and dirt resultingfrom driving on modern highways, it is necessary to first wash and scrubthe car with water containing a detergent. So far as the applicant isaware, this has been accomplished up to now, solely by the means ofdipping the scrubbing means in a bucket of detergent dissolved in waterand scrubbing the car; then taking a hose to wash the removed orloosened dirt and detergent off of the finish.

With the foregoing discussion of the prior art in mind, it is one of theobjects of my invention to provide a device for washing vehicles, whichis soft enough to avoid injury to the finish and has no exposed metalparts in a position to injure the surface while so washing it.

It is also a further object of my invention to provide a cleaning devicecapable of being attached to a hose or water supply which permits arelatively slow flow of water through the device on to the surface ofthe car while the car is being washed, thereby avoiding leaving dirtdeposited on the surface, and also, avoiding excess of splashing as thewater runs from the car.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a cleaning device intowhich measured quantities of cleaning detergent may be disposed, whichsaid detergent is slowly fed into the water flowing through the cleaningdevice, so that upon washing the car with a detergent, separateimplements are not necessary.

These and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent tothose skilled in the art, to which the invention applies from areference to the following drawings and description relative thereto. Inthe drawings, I have shown an example of one embodiment that myinvention may assume. It should be understood, however, that the detailshereinafter set forth, are by way of illustration only and not forpurpose of limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partially in section, of one device embodyingthe principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the embodiment ofmy invention illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2 of the inner tubeonly;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a detergent tube partially revealed in Fig.l.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings, I have provided ascrubbing pad, designated generally '10, formed as a rectangular blockof a relatively soft, porous, tough material. Whereas it will be readilyapparent that a great many other materials can be used, I prefer suchmaterial as synthetic cellulose sponge for the reason that it readilyabsorbs water and permits water to flow through the body thereof.

The rectangular pad 10 is formed with an aperture 1 extendinglongitudinally through the pad from one edge to the other. A collapsibleconduit 12 is inserted through the aperture 11 and extends from edge 13to edge 14.

A retainer plate .15 is formed with parallel slots 16 and '17 andperforms the function of retaining one end of the conduit 12 in theassembly. The conduit 12 is disposed through the slot 16 outwardlybeyond the surface 14, and reverse folded back through the slot 17.

A hole 18 is punched through the end of the conduit 12 and extends inaxial alignment through both folds thereof. A rivet 20 is insertedtherethrough to hold the two ends together.

Whereas a great many other embodiments may be adopted for holding theconduit \12 in the assembly, the means which I have illustrated issimple and elfective and not only holds the conduit 12 in place, but byreverse folding the end back inside of the body 10, any possible leakageof water takes place inside the body 10 and assists in wetting thesurface being scrubbed.

The other end of the conduit 12 is secured to a standard hose fittinghaving a universal cap 22 secured to a body 23. The securement betweenthe conduit 12 and the body 23 is by standard method, now well known tothe water hose industry. A flange 24, preferably formed'of rubber, isdisposed over the hose connection body 23 and abuts against theuniversal coupling 22, thereby holding the assembly securely in place.

It will also be noted that the conduit 12 is formed with a plurality ofapertures such as 25, preferably disposed along the lateral edgethereof. The size and spacing of the apertures control the dispersionand volume oi water flowingthrough the cleaning device.

In the operation, the hose coupling 22 is screwed on the end of thewater hose and water permitted to flow through the condu'it 12 outthrough the apertures 25.. This water rapidly soaks through the body 10on to the surface of the bar'being washed, so that it may be scrubbedand rinsed at the same time with a simple one-. handed operation andwithout the encumbrance of awkw ward metal tubes or other devices.

1 I havealso provided a means, in connection with my cleaning device,for adding measured quantities of deter gent at controlled rates. Themeans comprises'a tubular member which as seen'in' Fig. 1 is-inserteclinside of the conduit 12. The tube 30 as shown in Fig. hasa plug31permanently afiixed atone end and a removable stopper, such as 32atthe other end. The tube is pro-. vided' with means for permitting thefluid contained in-. side to flow outwardly into theconduit I2. I have.herein illustrated that means asa relatinely small aperture 33positioned adjacent the openable end ofthe tube; 305;.

* Whereas, the detergent tube 30 can be formed of sub Whereas I haveillustrated my invention in what I conceive to be the most practicalembodiment thereof, 1 do not mean to limit myself to the specificdetails of construction herein illustratedand described. It is readilyapparent that a great many difierent materials, sizes and shapes can beused within'the scope of my invention, the true scope of which is setforth in the appended claim.

I claim: I A cleaning device comprising: a scrubbing body formed of arelatively soft, porous, water absorbent. material and having anaperture extending axially therethr'oug'h; a'fiexible conduit memberdisposed insaid aperture and extending beyond the peripheral edges of.said body, said conduit being formed with a' plurality of holes forcommunication between the interior of said conduit and said scrubbingbody; means for sealing one end of said conhaving a. larger diameterthan said aperture and beingformed with spaced slots, said fieiihleconduit.

sta ntially any relatively rigid material, I prefer to form.

it, of an aluminum tube because it is. light inweight and shfiicientlyrigid to push inwardly into the conduit .12

evenin its collapsed condition, as shown inFig. 3?. In the event thatthe tube 30 were collapsable, using the. pad 10 and placing pressurethereon, wouldtendto squeeze the-tube 30 closed and force the detergent,inside, into the'waten, resulting in uneven flows of the detergent.

prefer one or more relativelysmall apertures at the stopper end of the.tube which permits a relatively slow flow of the detergent contained: inthe tube out through the apertures into the water while Washingthe'car;One

. reason: for preferring the location. of the apertures near thestoppered end is that the detergent tube 30. is inserted into the:conduit: 12 by pushing "the plug- 3t endiin first. Water flowing intothe cleaning: device, flows through; the coup1ing 22. and through thetube from right: to left, as seen in Fig. 1, so thatthe detergent inflowing out of the detergent tube. 30 mixes. with the water and. is;carried; the full length of the-cleaning device. If: the apertures:weresituated at the plug 31 end of the detergent tube, only the lefthand end of the cleaning pad 10' would tend. tohave detergent.

one and extending outwardly through. one of saidslots and folded back toextend throughthe other'of,

: said slots; hose coupling means secured: tn the other end of saidconduit and being provided with arflang'ed'menb ber larger than saidaperture-whereby said conduit prevented from being withdrawn inwardlyinto said body;

detergent supply means removably disposed'inside said conduit,saidd'etergent supplymean's comprising: a wholar member adapted to:-contain liquid detergent and: be

' ing formed with a relatively smalh discharge aperture! adjacent. oneend thereof, said: end being adapted for discharge adjacent said hosecoupling end of said conduit.

- References Cited in thefile ofthis-patent: 2

UNITED STATES PATENTS Willis .',..Sept.' 26; 19.05.

FOREIGN; PATENTS France Ian. 23; I953

